How to melt chocolate

Take care when melting chocolate in the microwave or on the stovetop. It burns easily and can “seize” up into grainy lumps.

First cut the chocolate into 1/4-inch pieces. For stovetop melting, place chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. For melting in the microwave, place the chocolate in a microwave-safe glass measuring cup or bowl. Heat on medium heat (50 percent power). The time it takes to melt chocolate in the microwave depends on the model and wattage of your appliance.

For each method, heat the chocolate only until half of the pieces are melted; remove the container from the heat. Stir the chocolate with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. The heat from the melted pieces will dissolve the remaining chocolate.